LA Galaxy sign 30 new players

CARSON, Calif. (Monday, June 22, 2015) – The LA Galaxy have signed 30 new players, the club announced today. These 30 players make up the LA Galaxy Southern California Special Olympics (SOSC) Unified Soccer Team that will compete against other MLS-affiliated Special Olympics Unified Teams during the year. Per MLS and club policy, exact terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“We are very excited to assemble a Southern California Special Olympics Unified Team with some of the most outstanding athletes from Los Angeles,” said Head Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena. “We think each player offers unique qualities both on and off the field to be a great member of the LA Galaxy. We are confident they will uphold the Galaxy’s standard as the premier soccer club in North America through their hard work, dedication and effort.”

• VIEW THE ROSTER

A link to each new signings’ bio can be found on www.lagalaxy.com/unified/roster. All 30 players were on hand for a special ceremony at StubHub Center’s Champions Lounge to announce their signed professional contracts with LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena. The group signing was also attended by LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez and Galaxy legend Landon Donovan, who presented each player with their new LA Galaxy jersey and offered support to the new signings ahead of the team’s upcoming season. Exclusive interviews, videos and additional content on the ceremony for the Galaxy’s SOSC Unified Team can be found on www.lagalaxy.com.

“Signing these 30 players is a major coup for the Galaxy organization,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “The Galaxy have a tradition of signing the world’s best and most talented footballers and we are thrilled to continue to be a destination for these premier players.”

The LA Galaxy SOCS Unified Team is composed of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities from ages 14-22 to encourage teamwork, hard work and inclusion through the sport of soccer. The team will compete against other MLS-affiliated Special Olympics Unified Soccer teams throughout the course of the season. The LA Galaxy SOC Unified Team will also be supported by the LA Galaxy first team, with players and coaches interacting with the Unified Team during the year.

“Since I retired from soccer last season, I’m pleased to see the Galaxy active to fill the spot I left behind with even more big signings,” said LA Galaxy legend Landon Donovan. “I am looking forward to being able to cheer this group on as they continue to bring championships to LA.”

The players signed will attend bi-weekly practices starting this month at LA Galaxy Field at Algin Sutton Recreation Center, a community field donated by the LA Galaxy last year. Potential game dates are aligned with LA Galaxy first team matches on August 15 at FC Dallas and September 26 at home vs. FC Dallas.

The goal of Unified Sports is to bring people with and without disabilities together to compete, learn and grow on the same team as equals. Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.

The LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team is made possible through the club’s partnership with the Special Olympics Southern California, which will see the Galaxy SOSC Unified Team compete for the second-straight year. The Galaxy SOSC Unified Team is formed ahead of the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games open on 25 July 2015 in  Los Angeles, California. The 2015  Games will feature competitions in aquatics, gymnastics, track and field, basketball, soccer and other summer sports involving 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the world.